SSN-23 (Jimmy Carter), already in theater, which deployed a Scan Eagle UAV to survey the damage last night.

"A likely response will be Tomahawks if this escalates, no aircraft over NK. Targeting is well established, NK airspace will get very crowded and I wouldn't want to be manning anything arty or nuclear."

"Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-eun turned up at 4th Corps, which was responsible for this shelling, a few days ago. The commander Kim Kyuk-shik is said to be a hardliner against SK and close to both Kim's.

"Everything looks like war. We've had intel since August that they were planning a 5 island shelling and ....... occupation."

Jul 22, 2010 ... The US and South Korea's plans to hold joint military exercises pose a major danger to the region, Pyongyang says.www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-10722218 - Cached - Add to iGoogle

Would also send clear msg to Iran.

Paradigm Intel Update:

NKorea's nukes are problematic, Maybe?
NK newly discovered centrifuges were
not running, just like Iran's centrifuges
are down. We think NK got help from
Iran in building their new plant, and
Stuxnet 4.o from Iran. Thank you Iran.

NK may find it has trouble
enriching any thing, or launching anything.
NK communications system is mostly 1950's
best equipment is maybe 1960's. NSA has
them completely bugged, remotely.

The problem US and SK face is if they let
NK attack first then SK faces significant losses.
Tens of thousands dead, if NK nuke doesn't work.
If it does work or they just move it next to the
border and detonate it, casualties will be catastrophic.

Or even if NK just launches an all out artillery strike
against the capitol, again SK would be looking at
huge losses.

The only acceptable paradigm is a preemptive strike.
As soon as US Intel picks up the prelim orders.
Russia is on board, they don't like a Nuclear NK
so close to them.

Now China is a different proposition.
A loosing proposition, they fund 70%
of NK oil and 50% of their food.
China is waiting for assurances
US will not invade NK or occupy
them. Given those assurances,
the removal of NK leadership
would allow NGOs to take over
some of China's foreign aid load.
And currently under this regime
the NK people are not customers
for China's goods, nor cheap
labor. They don't have the trust
or capital for factories.
All that changes if NK nukes
and military are knocked out.
NK becomes a big trading
partner for China Money from
NK buying and making goods
for China.
Removal of current regime
would allow Western investment
in NK for factories electrical etc.

And it gets rid of a rogue Nuke
power.
IF KN sneezes wrong they will
loose their heads.

Diego Garcia is all lit up right now.
Some concepts from sources inside beltway.